Sheila Dikshit is our Chief Minister. In as much as many of us are residents of Delhi, she apparently represents the wishes and aspirations of the people of this city, even though many of us wish she would also come clean on her role during the Common Wealth Games. A badly named event, if I may say so, since the wealth thus generated from the organisation of these games was diverted into anything but common wealth or hands.

I mean, look at it this way, even the railway line from the airport to the railway station went adrift in some sort of scam or safety related issue. Never mind the dozens of super luxury public toilets constructed all over the city, now lying sealed, and unused. That the Airport Metro pillars and walls around these sealed toilets make for excellent squirting locations of the urinal kind, though, smelling from tower to tower, was part of the law of unintended consequences. Truly, who needs GPS, when your nose will see you through?

But let us get back to the concept of don’t use it if you can’t pay for it as expounded by our good though hazy Chief Minister. Coming from refugee stock, where going out and sitting under streetlamps to study was a simple fact of life for the previous generation and was not unknown to my generation, one can understand where the old Delhi family type CM’s ire springs from – how dare these refugees aspire for more?

There used to be a term which “they” used for us – look at the temerity of these people from Delhi-6. Apparently, it is still there. Because, otherwise, there is no reason why such a statement could have been made. Part of the angst of the old money old power elite in Delhi, the “hai saadaa LaWhore” sort still beating their breasts and chests every which where, stems from this – the refugee stock second and third generation in Delhi are now standing up and demanding their share of? Power.

So, it is likely that the reference was to power, not of the electrical kind, but of the political kind. Maybe, and I hasten to add this is just conjecture, the real meaning was – if you can’t pay for power, means if you don’t want to bribe for power, then do without it. You refugees, you children and grandchildren of refugees, you now dare to stand up for your rights in a free India?

We shall show you. No power. Off with their heads, said the Red Queen. No?

Madam CM-ji, small correction here – who will stay powerless, you or us? Elections are round the corner, Madam-ji, and many of us are going to ask – where are and what happened to your promises of “policies” for free solar power from our roof-tops? What happened to reduction of wastage of power in government offices? What happened to all those free or low-cost LED bulbs your government promised?

All that and more, Madam CM-ji, does not get resolved by passing imperious edicts of the “eat cake if bread is not available” sort.

Yes, we will switch off power. Yours. We shall eat humble pie till then, but we have had enough of your arrogant pronouncements.

You please use less power Madam. While you still have it.

DISCLAIMER : Views expressed above are the author's own.

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Author

Veeresh Malik, is a fauji brat brought up all over the country. He escaped in 1973 to work as a seafarer globally, then came ashore in 1982 to a variety of stints in India and abroad, some successful, many not. In the last decade as the India head of a small Silicon Valley tech company, he now wants to spend the rest of his life doing not much more than offering unasked for advice and opinions. He has been married (to the same person) for the last 34 years, has two children, one son-in-law and is still looking for the perfect hair-style. He lives in Delhi and does not intend to learn how to set an alarm clock. Also publishing online at Amazon with 9 books to his name.

Veeresh Malik, is a fauji brat brought up all over the country. He escaped in 1973 to work as a seafarer globally, then came ashore in 1982 to a vari. . .